Wilder gearing up for a ‘tough competition’ in league two next season

Jeremy Casey

Boss Chris Wilder knows his Cobblers team faces ‘tough competition’ to try and win promotion from Sky Bet League Two next season.

The make up of the division for next season is almost complete, with Burton, Shrewsbury, Bury, Cheltenham Town and Tranmere Rovers all gone, either up or down.

They are replaced by Barnet, Bristol Rovers, Notts County, Yeovil Town, Crawley Town and Leyton Orient.

The one issue still to be decided is who the fourth team is to go up, and that will be all sorted out on Saturday when Wycombe Wanderers take on Southend United in the play-off final at Wembley, with Wilder admitting he is keeping his fingers crossed for a win for Phil Brown’s side.

“You look at the other teams, and you think ‘they might be strong, and they might struggle’,” said the Cobblers boss.

“But then you look at Wycombe, who were almost down the season before and now are in the play-off final and 90 minutes away from getting up.

“I’m not disappointed that Shrewsbury, Burton and Bury have gone up, because they have got the best players in general, especially Shrewsbury and Bury.

“I would also like Southend to go up, because I think they are a strong club and have good players as well.

“Wycombe are local as well, so if they stayed down they are not a million miles away, and you are selfish on that front.

“But Bristol Rovers are going to be a big club, they will be tipped to go well again like Luton were, Barnet aren’t the biggest club but have just had a fantastic season, winning the league.

“Then coming down there are a couple there, such as Leyton Orient, and if they get it right they will be a threat, and it is a tough competition.

“So there are no guarantees, it is going to be a hard league, but we feel is we can make the necessary changes in recruitment and get the work done on the training ground, then people will look at us and think we are a threat.

“I think that’s reflected in the odds for the league, I think we are seventh or eighth in that and we would like to match that up.”